Jar clamp



June 6, 1933-, J. M. RUTLEDGE JAR CLAMP Filed April 22, 1932 awuemtoz Patented June 6, 1933 r,

UNITED STATES JOHN M. RUTLEDGE, OF MIDVALE, OHIO JAR CLAMP Application filed April 22, 1932.

The invention aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet an cilicient and desirable clamp for securely holding glass fruit jars while applying the usual threaded caps thereof, 'or for holding the ars while removing their caps.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

A preferred construction has been illustrated and will be specifically described, with the understanding however that within the scope of the invention as claimed, minor variations may be made.

A wooden base-board 5 is provided, adapted to rest upon a table or the like, said board having lugs 6 to abut the front edge of the table top and being provided with a screw clamp 7 for securely holding the board upon said table top. The grain of the board 5 preferably runs in a front to rear direction as indicated at 8. This board is preferably of rectangular form, as shown.

Lying upon the front portion of the baseboard 5, is a flat horizontally elongated abutment cleat 9 which is fixedly secured to said base-board 5, by screws or the like 10. The ends and the front edges of the parts 5 and 9 are preferably flush with each other, as shown. The rear edge of the cleat 9 is provided with substantially semi-circular jar seats 11 preferably lined with rubber or the like 12.

Two parallel track cleats 13 of rectangular form, lie upon the base-board 5 at the ends of the latter, and extend rearwardly from the ends of the abutment cleat 9. A flat movable abutment 14 lies slidably upon the base-board 5 between the cleats 13, the ends of said abutment 14 being slidably engaged with the inner opposed sides of said cleats. This movable abutment 14 is provided with substantially semi-circular jar seats 15 lined with rubber or the like 16.

pensive, and may therefore be manufactured Serial No. 606,980.

A flat guide-board or plate 17 is provided for the movable abutment 14, said plate or board lying upon said abutment 14 and upon the cleats 13. The parts 17, 13 and 5 are secured together by appropriate fasteners such as screws 18. The front edge of the plate or board 17 is formed with notches 19 so that it will not interfere with placing of jars upon the baseboard 5, between the fixed and movable abutments. Fordrainage pur- 9 poses, the jar-supporting portions of the base-board 5, are formed with openings 20 and are beveled around said openings, as at 21. If the jars be taken from hot water and placed in the device while attaching their 5 caps, the water which would otherwise collect upon the base-board 5, may drain through the openings 20.-

A hand screw 22 is swiveled in an opening 23 formed centrally through the fixed abut- F9 ment cleat 9, said screw being received in a similar opening 24 formed through the movable abutment 14. Screw 22 has a threaded connection with this abutment 14, and in the present showing, this connection is establ lished by threading the screw-through a nut 25 which is inset in the rear edge of said abutment 14, said nut being secured in a recess 26, by means of an appropriate cover plate 27.- Sliding of the screw with respect to the fixed abutment 9, is prevented by collars 28 and washers 29, so that rotation of said screw will move the movable abutment 14forwardly to clamp the jars, or rearwardly to release them. 35 Most parts of the structure are preferably formed from wood, and the grain of the abutment cleat 9 crosses that of the board 5, thus causing each of these members to reinforce the other against splitting. The grain of the cleats 13 may well run unidirectionally with that of the base-board 5, and the grain of the elements 14 and 17 preferably extcnds parallel with the grain of the cleat 9.

By providing the novel construction shown and described, or an equivalent thereof, a clamp is produced which is simple and inexand marketed at small cost. Moreover, the

device is easily applied to atable top or the like, conveniently used whenever necessary, and may be easily removed, cleaned and stored in small space.

\Vhile the details disclosed may be considered as preferred, attention is again 1nvited to the fact that variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: 1. A jar clamp comprising a horizontal jar-supporting base, a. horizontally elongated fixed jar abutment secured upon the upper, side of the front portion of said base, two parallel tracks secured throughout their lengths upon said upper side of said base and projecting rearwardly from the ends of said abutment, a movable horizontally elongated jar abutment parallel with said fixed abutment and disposed in its entirety over said .base behind said fixed abutment. said movable abutment having ends at right angles to its length and disposed in sliding engagement with the inner sides of said tracks, a

horizontal guide plate for said movable abutment lyingslidably upon the upper side of 'said movable abutment and secured at its "ends to said tracks, and a hand screw swiveled in the central portion of said fixed abutment and having a threaded connection with the central portion of said movable abutment, said fixed and movable abutments hav- 1 ing opposed concave jar-gripping portions at opposite sides of said screw.

2. A jar clamp comprising a flat rectangular horizontal jar-supporting base plate, a

fixed flat horizontal abutment cleat secured upon the upper side of and extending along the front edge portion of said base plate, two rectangular track cleats secured through- 40 out their lengths upon the upper side of said base plate, said track cleats being disposed at the ends of said base plate and extending rearwardly from the ends of said abutment cleat, a .movable flat abutment disposed in s its entirety over and lying slidably upon ,said upper side of said base plate in parallel relation with said fixed abutment plate, c said movable abutment having ends at right l angles to its length and disposed in sliding engagement with the inner sides of said track cleats. a flat horizontal guide plate for 'said movable abutment. said guide plate lying upon the upper side of said movable abutment and vupon theupper sides of said track cleats and being secured to the latter, and a hand screw .swiveled in thecentral portion of, said fixed abutment cleatv and having a threaded connection with the central portion of said movable abutment, said fixed abutment cleat and said movable abutment having opposed concave jar-gripping portions at opposite sides of said screw. .t In testimony whereof I afiix my signaure.

w JOHN M. RUTLEDGE. 

